Tag Archives: Health & Safety

Intelect’s Health & Safety manager Dave Ritchie introduced the ‘Think For 30 Seconds’ campaign towards the end of 2017. The campaign is aimed at all members of staff and sub-contractors working at our own premises, on site or driving between locations.

The point behind the campaign is to raise awareness of the risks that appear around us throughout our working day and to remind us that pausing to consider how to proceed can prevent an accident.

The TF-30″ logo that appears at the top of the page has been designed to help us remember the importance of keeping ourselves and our colleagues safe in the workplace. We have had some stickers made up, which will be finding their way around vaious sites, equipment and vehicles. If anyone would like to request some for tool boxes or machinery then please contact Dave Ritchie on 07702 913252 or email Dave.Ritchie@intelectuk.com.

We have also introduced a QR Code into the design which can be scanned using the camera of your mobile device. The QR Code will provide a link to information relating to health and safety topics, and initiatives which will be updated periodically.

Why is this campaign so important?

There is no doubt keeping safe at work is important, no one would wish an accident upon themselves or a colleague, but you might wonder why we need to have campaigns, surely we all do our best every day to keep ourselves safe?

Well you would think so yes, but ask yourself honestly. Have you ever operated a piece of equipment or machinery with out the correct eyewear or ppe? Have you ever operated a piece of equipment or machinery without the correct PPE or the correct checks being completed? Have you ever driven a vehicle without defrosting it fully, or stood on something that’s not designed to be stood on to allow you to reach?

It’s these small oversights that we want to tighten up on so ‘daft accidents’ are avoided alongside more serious risks.

It’s good for business

Growing our business, securing work and jobs is equally important in maintaining a strong Health & Saftey strategy. In order for Intelect to achieve the accreditations and awards required to win new contracts and secure existing clients, we need to demonstrate our commitment to best practices accross our business. Please help us achieve our long term goals by adhering to, and suggesting improvements, for best practices.

We have produced some posters to help promote health and safety at work

If you would like to get some posters or stickers for use by your team, if you have any questions or need support, please contact Dave Ritchie (Health & Safety Manager) on 07702 913252 or email Dave.Ritchie@intelectuk.com.

Intelect’s John Henderson (Senior Electrical Supervisor) heads up the team of 5 electrical engineers who work on a long term contract at KP’s manufacturing plant on Teesside.

Intelect have been working at the plant since 2000, with John’s team permanently on site since 2005. Their role on the site is split between project, maintenance and repair work to both the production line and the building.

Working alongside KP’s own staff

The factory underwent substantial works when the roof was replaced in 2010, Intelect were heavily involved in this project, installing the switchboard into a new switch room, connecting the electrical and mechanical services to various parts of the line.

Special projects

Alongside the contracted electrical work, Intelect are involved with special projects to increase productivity, safety and efficiency of the food processing and packaging lines. The following video, produced by KP Snacks, shows the inside of their manufacturing plant on Teesside. Below the video we’ve described projects that Intelect have worked on as part of their ongoing relationship with KP.

Process Monitoring

Process monitoring allows the client to measure the input and output of particular production line, helping to optimise energy conservation and performance.

Working with the KP team, Intelect have installed energy monitors, airflow meters and photocells including the design and manufacture of any brackets, fixings and guards.

Conveyors and robotic systems

Most of the conveyor systems used to transport product around the facility were designed, manufactured and installed by our mechanical and electrical teams. The robotic auto palletisation equipment was purchased from a third party company and installed by Intelect as part of the packaging line.

Access bridges and inspection platforms

Our mechanical team were also involved in the design and installation of stepover, access and inspection platforms, all of which are built in-house to BSEN 1090.

Electric, air and water supply

During the process area roof refurbishment in 2010, Intelect installed:

Emergency lighting.

Electric supplies for lighting and machines.

Airlines for pneumatics actuation.

Additional pipework and air handling units were designed and installed by Intelect to provide:

Steam & condensate pipework.

Air handling units and extract fans.

The team

John Henderson’s team at KP are self managed and responsible for their own equipment and practices on site.

All staff are IPAF accredited.

Dressed in all the appropriate PPE for the food industry with internal pockets.

Single piece food safe pens.

We recently purchased an additional MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms) and podium scaffolds to reduce the need to use stepladders on site, the podium scaffolds provide a stable and compact platform that allows staff to work comfortably and safely at lower heights. The MEWP’s can also fit into tighter spaces and they extend to around 5.5 metres, for heights in excess of this we also keep scissor lifts and boom lifts on site.

Intelect are a multidiscipline company and are able to support the KP team with skills in order for them to achieve their daily activities or project work.

The product standards for portable ladders are changing in 2018. BS EN 131 which covers all types of portable ladders has been substantially revised. The changes that come with this revision will help improve the safety of ladders and make buying the right ladder simpler.

These changes will affect everyone involved with ladders, from users and specifiers to suppliers and health & safety professionals.

The document below produced by the Ladder Association will help explain the chages and how they will effect those who work at heights.

If any of our staff or customers would like to discuss the impact of this change in detail, Dave Ritchie, Intelect’s Health & Safety Manger, would be happy to answer your questions.

Intelect receive praise from KP on their proactive approach to working at heights at their Teesside site

"This is just the type of proactive approach we want to mitigate the risk of WAH." HSE Manager at KP Snacks, Teesside, describes Intelect's decision to invest in additional equipment for their staff. Intelect currently have 5 regular members of staff working on a long-term contract at the snack manufacturers Billingham site. The team headed up by John Henderson are responsible for the electrical installations and maintenance of the building. Intelect also work alongside KP's own staff to design, manufacture and install equipment that monitors and improves the performance of production line.

As part of their daily activity, the team are working at heights as described by the Health and Safety Executive

"Work in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. You are working at height if you:

work above ground/floor level

could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface or

could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground

Work at height does not include a slip or a trip on the level, as a fall from height has to involve a fall from one level to a lower level, nor does it include walking up and down a permanent staircase in a building."

Investing in safety

Whilst step ladders are suitable for low-risk and short duration tasks (under 30mins) Intelect were keen to impress upon KP their commitment to going above and beyond what is required by legislation if it will make the working environment safer.

The additional MEWP's (Mobile Elevated Work Platforms) and podium scaffolds were purchased to reduce the need to use stepladders on site, the podium scaffolds provide a stable and compact platform that allows staff to work comfortably and safely at lower heights. The MEWP's can also fit into tighter spaces and they extend to around 5.5 metres, for heights in excess of this we also keep scissor lifts and boom lifts on site. All staff working at heights are IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) certified.

But Intelect Engineering bosses have warned the risks of other firms ignoring new legislation are "significant"

A Teesside engineering firm has won a string of contracts worth more than £1m - after becoming one of the first in the North-east to adopt strict industry safety rules.

Intelect Engineering, part of the Middlesbrough-based Intelect Group, says the orders have led to a “significant” boom in business that could trigger more expansion and jobs.

The company invested £70,000 towards accreditation under the new CE Marking of Structural Steelwork regulations.

They claim their outlay is already starting to pay off - but bosses have warned other companies to get to grips with the new legislation or risk falling foul of the law.

Intelect Engineering’s director, Phill Bodsworth, said the latest contracts had been secured on the back of the company’s recent accreditation following a successful audit for the new rules, which came into effect last year.

The regulations are not guidelines but law, and any company found operating outside the legislation will be liable for prosecution.

Aimed at reducing the risk of accident and injury to people working on or around steelwork structures, the legislation is seen as a “much-needed wake-up call” by many in the construction and engineering industries, according to Phill.

He said: “Intelect has always operated to its own strict standards as well as those required by the industry but we felt it was absolutely vital to achieve this new accreditation.

“We needed to invest £70,000 in training and new equipment to be awarded the BS EN 1090 under the Construction Products Regulations 2011 but as we can see it is already paying significant dividends.”

Intelect’s senior design engineer, Martin Heywood, who led the programme resulting in the successful certification, said: “Not every fabricator is aware of the new regulations, introduced by the EU, or has taken the necessary steps to be certified. The implications for those who remain unaware or who ignore the regulations are significant.”

Intelect’s latest contract wins are all for leading UK food industry clients at premises in Yorkshire and include three mezzanines totalling £600,000, plus a further £400,000 in the installation of associated plant and equipment.

Phill added: “We are sure the new accreditation played a big role in our securing these latest contracts and we are now in a position to move ahead with our expansion plans.”

A Grimsby company working on one of the town’s most eagerly awaited business developments has introduced an innovative health and safety campaign involving both site workers and children.

Intelect Engineering Services is currently handling the key project management and principal contractor role for the new Morrisons seafood processing plant at Europarc.

Working to an extremely tight schedule, the pressure is on to ensure the plant is operational by Se ptember.

Safety of the 90-plus people on site and all visitors is crucial to the success of the project, and with that in mind health and safety manager Robin Keld has devised his own way of getting the message across.

He said: “Since we began work on site in March, we have handed out monthly awards, usually cash bonuses, to the person who has contributed most to health and safety.

“The idea is to encourage and reward positive behaviour rather than just reprimand the individual when something goes wrong.

“Usually, with most companies, when something major goes wrong the perpetrator simply gets kicked off site, but with Intelect the approach is refreshingly different. “If there is an issue, as long as it’s not a sackable offence, we prefer to work with the individual to make sure we all learn from the mistake.”

A traffic lights system has been employed, with green rewarding positive behaviour, yellow recording minor offences and red for serious offences that require the person to leave the site.

“I’m pleased to say that the team at Europarc is very much behind the idea and especially my motto ‘my site, my safety’,” said Mr Keld.

He has extended the campaign by launching a children’s health and safety themed poster competition.

Mr Keld said: “We have a very fast-track job here, but it has to be undertaken in a safe manner and it would not be practical to take men off the site whenever there is a safety issue to discuss.

“Our campaign encourages the team to raise any issues, not turn a blind eye.”

Kev Stanham, Intelect Engineering’s technical director and project manager, said the initiative was one of the most effective he had experienced.

He said: “Rather than people just paying lip service to health and safety, Robin has achieved real interest among the site workforce.

“He has actively encouraged them to engage in a dialogue and to raise issues.

“As a company that has always focussed on the safety of its employees, Intelect will be rolling out similar programmes on all future projects. ”

Story and picture reproduced from Grimsby Telegraph Thursday, August 9, 2012.

The Four companies that make up our electrical and mechanical engineering group have all been recognised by the British Safety Council for their commitment to health and safety at work.

The Four companies, which form the Intelect Group, have each been awarded the Council’s International Safety Award with merit.

In a letter to our companies, the Council’s Chief Executive, Alex Botha, wrote: “This achievement clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to maintain health, safety and well-being of your employees through good health and safety management”.

We have won a string of industry safety awards since it was established in 1997 and invests continually in health, safety and environmental training for its 160-strong workforce. Director and company secretary, John Thompson, said: “The well-being of our staff is paramount to the Group and we will always be committed to a proper and effective health and safety policy”.

The International Safety Awards will be presented at a banquet at Grosvenor House, London, on 18 May.

Intelect UK has become the latest in a line of successful companies to join a leading edge scheme designed to help the industry improve its safety record.

The Middlesbrough-based firm has received accreditation from SAFE contractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice among UK contractors.

Intelect is one of the leading electrical and mechanical engineering companies in the North East, employing more than 100 staff at their Riverside Park headquarters. Earlier this year, the company launched Intelect Engineering Limited at Grimsby, working primarily in the food processing sector.

Intelect’s application for SAFE contractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.

Director John Thompson said: “It’s vital for us to recognise the importance of health and safety issues within a company like ours, and to be recognised for our efforts gives us the incentive to maintain such high standards in the long term.”

SAFE contractor accreditation is expected to enhance the company’s ability to attract new contracts and its commitment to safety will be viewed positively by its insurers.

John Kinge, Head of Risk at SAFEcontractor said: “Major organisations can no longer run the risk of employing contractors who are not able to prove that they have sound health and safety policies.”

“More companies need to understand the importance of adopting good risk management in the way that Intelect has done. The firm’s high standard has set an example, which hopefully will be followed by other companies within the sector.”

Under the SAFE contractor system, businesses undergo a vetting process which examines the health and safety procedures and their track record for safe practice. Those with a high standard are included in a database, which can then be accessed by registered users via the website www.safecontractor.com

Organisations who sign up to the scheme can access the database and vet potential contractors, giving them the opportunity to only engage with those who have accreditation.

Over 150 major nationwide businesses, from several key sectors, have signed up to use the scheme so far.

Intelect UK has also received accreditation from the Contractors Health and Safety Scheme having demonstrated compliance with and sound management of current basic health and safety legislation.